Tyre Reccomendations..

[Bradles]

so its come time i need to replace a couple tyres on the levin.. 205/40/17's..

Any reccomendations? not too worried about the price.

[xsspeed]

Pretty sure there has been a thread or two on this recently, have a search and it should pop up

[postfach]

Toyo T1-R, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Dunlop Direzza DZ101, all good tires.

Avoid Nankang, Triangle, Clear etc.

Basically buy the most expensive tire you can afford within reason. You really do get what you pay for and cheap always = shit.

[xsspeed]

Found:

http://forums.toyspeed.org.nz/viewtopic.php?t=66880&highlight=tyres

I have bridgestone potenza G3's on the caldina.

I would agree with postfach regarding price normally except...in my case I went to a 2nd hand tyre place and got them $70 a corner, 90% tread left. Albeit they are 15" wheels so someone probably had them and then replaced with mags.
You may have trouble finding decent 17's 2nd hand though.

[Leon]

Avoid Nankangs at all costs I have them on my hack, and they are evil evil tyres (they might be made out of steel considering how they handle in the rain)

[postfach]

I would agree with postfach regarding price normally except...in my case I went to a 2nd hand tyre place and got them $70 a corner, 90% tread left..

Yeah I was referring to new tires only, if you're lucky (like you were) you can find good quality used tires for a certain price.

[xsspeed]

Only reason why the caldina is still on 15's atm! Cheap tyres!

[Heylin]

+1 Toyo T1-R, heard good things from many in MR2 club

Ive been running Falken FK452, uses new silica based compound, heres my review.

TYRE LIFE
based on my tread depth I estimate the rear drive tyres will get about 10,000 kms of use, the fronts about 20,000 kms. That with medium to agressive driving style.

DRY WEATHER
50 kmh, U-turn into tight roundabout under even throttle, the tyres pipped for about .3 of a second at the apex before gripping again. Hamilton to Raglan road, 80+kmh into some of the tight 30kmh turns, there was zero loss of traction. Just a couple examples, IMO the FK452 is grippy in the dry.

WET WEATHER
Managed to stay at 100kmh over the Kaimais in the wet and they felt grippy and safe, Anyone that trys to push their car over 100kmh in the wet is being irresponsible, IMO aim for maximum dry weather performance and be sensible in the wet.

NOISE
NZ Roads are crap so theres always going to be road noise, turn up the stereo I say.

OTHER NOTES
The FK452 have pretty stiff sidewalls, combined with sports springs and performance shock they can provide a pretty bumpy ride, but its a good trade off in exchange for percise and tight cornering at speed.

And they look sexy as

[gepsk8]

and not GT radials Rubbish

[Stealer Of Souls]

Friend had dirty ole Nankangs on a 1500 pulsar. I swear those tyres never wore out... and the ole pulsinator could make em brake grip.. but it was a 1500 auto shopping cart...

[iOnic]

viewtopic.php?t=68354&highlight=

[strx7]

if you just using the thing for driving around, transport etc, and dont like to go for a fang thru the country roads, you are pretty much wasting money sticking big $$ tyres on.

[method]

I've had the FK452's on my car and they are brilliant tyres!

Had them on my evo and they were awesome, gripped very well in the wet and dry. IMO wet weather performance is very important, most tyres work quite well in the dry it is on wet roads where you notice a HUGE difference. Being able to stop quicker/swerve better in the wet could help you avoid being in a accident.

[Paulio]

Eagle F1s.

[postfach]

if you just using the thing for driving around, transport etc, and dont like to go for a fang thru the country roads, you are pretty much wasting money sticking big $$ tyres on.

I don't completely agree with that statement - going for a thrash through the wops at 2am isn't the only reason to buy decent tires....number one reason to buy good tires is safety.

The few hundred dollars between good and bad tires could be the difference between having an accident because you couldn't stop in time/avoid a useless driver/dog/whatever, and making it home in time for dinner.

[rollaholic]

yeah i've always put the best tires i can afford on my cars. just because you dont want insane grip at 200km/hr doesnt mean you want increased stopping distance in muppet filled auckland traffic!

[cat007]

Toyo T1R's FTW

Got them on the front - very niiiiiice

[strx7]

....number one reason to buy good tires is safety.

The few hundred dollars between good and bad tires could be the difference between having an accident because you couldn't stop in time/avoid a useless driver/dog/whatever, and making it home in time for dinner.

Someone above says GT Radial tyres are crap. They are one of, if not the biggest selling tyre brand in the world. When it comes to fanging a car around a track, i'll be the first to admit that my car wouldn't have GT Radials on it. However, there is nothing wrong with GT Radials and other similar cheaper tyres. I draw the line at brand i've never heard of, or aren't a well known brand, ie Sunny, Wun-li etc.

Race type tyres are designed for racing, which should be done on a) the track, b) closed sections of public road, with a MNZ Permit.

That being said if money was no object, I'd have Continentals on my performance cars for road usage........

[AE82 FXGT]

I noticed an add on TV that says firestone is doing any bridgestone 17" tyre for $159.

[Mr.Phreak]

That being said if money was no object, I'd have Continentals on my performance cars for road usage........

Don't think he wants to spend twice what his cars worth on tyres though

And the $159 only covers NZ made Bridgestones